Giraffe Facts in Rwanda – Rwanda Wildlife Safaris
Giraffe Facts in Rwanda: Giraffes, with their high legs and lengthy necks, are the world’s tallest animals. The legs of a giraffe alone are higher than many humans—about 6 feet. Giraffes can sprint as fast as 35 miles per hour over short distances and cruise easily at 10 miles per hour over longer distances because to their large legs. Giraffes in Rwanda can only be seen in Akagera National Park which is the only savannah national park in the country.
Interesting Facts about giraffes in Rwanda.
Height and Size of Giraffes in Rwanda
Giraffes in Rwanda’s Akagera national park take advantage of their height by browsing on leaves and buds in trees that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favourite for giraffes). Even the giraffe has a long tongue! The 21-inch tongue aids them in snatching delicious morsels off trees. Giraffes consume the majority of the time and, like cows, regurgitate and chew their food as cud. A giraffe consumes hundreds of pounds of leaves every week and must travel long distances to obtain enough nourishment.
The giraffe’s height also aids it in keeping a vigilant eye out for predators over the vast African plains.
The giraffe’s size can also be an advantage—drinking at a water source is difficult and risky for a giraffe. To do so, they must spread their legs and lean down in an uncomfortable stance that exposes them to predators such as Africa’s large cats. Giraffes only need to drink once every few days since they acquire the majority of their water from the lush vegetation they consume.
Female giraffes give birth while standing. Their offspring are given a rough start in life, plummeting more than 5 feet to the earth upon birth. These babies can stand in half an hour and run with their moms 10 hours after birth all to thrill while on Rwanda Wildlife Safari.
Reproduction and Gestation Period of Giraffes in Rwanda.
When the male giraffe is ready to mate, he will taste the female giraffe’s urine to see whether particular hormones are present that signal the female is “ready” to mate.
A pregnant giraffe has a gestation period of around 15 months.
Cows give birth while standing. When a calf is born, it has the largest drop to the earth of any mammal (approximately 6 feet). Within an hour, a new born calf can stand up and keep up with the group.
Males are sexually active for roughly six years, but females can procreate from an early age until she dies.
Social Structure and Behavior of Giraffes in Rwanda.
These intriguing animals often explore the wide grasslands in tiny groups of around a half-dozen.
Bulls may fight by butting their lengthy necks and heads together. Such competitions are typically not harmful, and they finish when one animal concedes and goes away.
Population of Giraffes in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park.
Currently, there are over 80 giraffes in Akagera national park in Rwanda. The increase in Rwanda’s giraffe populations is largely attributed to the strict and persistent conservation projects and anti-poaching laws in Akagera national park.
Today, there are just 111,000 giraffes left in the wild. It’s time to take action! Sophie la giraffe is excited to collaborate with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) in 2021 to help ensure the future of giraffes in Africa.
Giraffes communicate with each other using unique sounds
Giraffes are sometimes said to as “silent” giants, yet they have been witnessed bleating, grunting, snorting, and humming. They generate an infrared frequency with a rich harmonic structure that the human ear cannot perceive.
Until recently, it was widely assumed that there was just one species of giraffe, with many subspecies. Some scientists published a paper in 2016 claiming that genetic variations across giraffe populations imply the presence of four separate giraffe species.
How to can I see giraffes in Rwanda.
Book a wildlife safari in Rwanda with Explore Rwanda Tours and get an opportunity to see giraffes on a boat cruise or during a game drive in Akagera national park. Other Rwanda wildlife safaris include gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park.
